Castor Aralia Kalopanax septemlobus
- Description
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Castor Aralia is a large flowering shade tree native to eastern Asia. Plant in moist, high organic matter well-drained soil in the full sun to light shade. This low maintenance plant has thorns and showy white flowers and black fruits. The leaves resemble castor bean.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems but it can suffer in hot humid summers.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Kalopanax
- Species:
- septemlobus
- Family:
- Araliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds enjoy fruits.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Oval
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Appendage:
- Thorns
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Fruit Description:
- Black fruits
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Umbles of white flowers appear in late summer.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Palmasect
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Dark green glossy toothed palmate leaves up to 14" wide with 5-7 lobes. Dull red fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Ridges
- Bark Description:
- Mature bark is ridged, furrowed and dark gray.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
